Speaking of Dividends

General Mills Pours It On

Also upping their payouts: Williams-Sonoma, Vail Resorts, Douglas Dynamics, and First American Financial

When General Mills' fiscal year comes to an end on May 31, it will have returned 17% more in dividends to investors than in fiscal 2013. That's because last Tuesday, the giant packaged-food maker sweetened its quarterly common payout another 8%, to 41 cents a share from 38 cents, putting an additional $75 million in stockholders' cupboards annually. With General Mills trading a stone's throw from its 52-week high of $53.07 on the New York Stock Exchange, the shares (ticker: GIS) yield 3.3% with the enriched payout, which marks...